Self-standing paint roller

ABSTRACT

An upright, self-standing paint roller formed of a stiff wire bent into a roughly squared U-shape, with one leg being about twice the length of the other and extending through the center of and rotatably supporting a paint applying roller, with the other, short leg having an integral long handle forming extension portion extending roughly parallel to the base of the U-shape, and a support member secured to said base near the bend between the base and short leg so that the paint roller may be supported in an upright position upon the support member and remote end of the handle portion.

United States Patent 1191 Hawk 1451 Sept. 3, 1974 SELF-STANDING PAINT ROLLER [75] Inventor: Gary D. Hawk, lola, Kans.

{73] Assignee: Harding Development Company, Warren, Mich.

221 Filed: 11111.5,1973

21 Appl.No.:321,539

[52] U.S. Cl. l5/230.11, 15/248 A, 248/359, 401/131 [51] Int. Cl B44d 3/28 [58] Field of Search 15/27, 230.11,246, 248 A; 101/328-331; 401/131, 147, 197,208, 218-220; 248/359 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 454,064 6/1891 Pfeiffer 401/131 596,090 12/1897 Roux 401/197 1,938,904 12/1933 Harris 1,974,246 9/1934 Littell 2,545,700 3/1951 MacKey 15/230.11

2,610,582 9/1952 Sprung 401/218 x 2,647,276 8/1953 Thomas et 111. 15/23011 2,722,030 11/1955 v1111 c1181 401/197 2,837,757 6/1958 Katanich 15 23011 x Primary Examiner-Daniel Blum Attorney, Agent, or FirmCullen, Settle, Sloman & Cantor [57] ABSTRACT An upright, self-standing paint roller formed of a stiff wire bent into a roughly squared U-shape, with one leg being about twice the length of the other and extending through the center of and rotatably supporting a paint applying roller, with the other, short leg having an integral long handle forming extension portion extending roughly parallel to the base of the U-shape, and a support member secured to said base near the bend between the base and short leg so that the paint roller may be supported in an upright position upon the support member and remote end of the handle portion.

4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEP3 Ian I 3,832,749

-7 FIGB SELF-STANDING PAINT ROLLER BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Conventional paint rollers for applying paint to wall surfaces are made of a stiff wire bent into a roughly squared U-shape, with a paint applying roller rotatably mounted upon one leg and the other leg bent into a handle forming extension having an appropriate hand grip formed on its end. In use, the painter generally pours a quantity of paint into a tray. Then, the paint applying roller portion is dipped into the tray for picking up paint. The paint is thereafter rolled upon the wall surface by rolling the paint applied roller against such surface while holding the paint roller grip manually.

During periods of non-use, conventionally, the painter places the paint roller upon the tray, with the paint applying roller portion arranged in the tray and the handle or grip portion upon the edge of the tray. This conventional method of storage or non-use support, tends to form flattened lines upon the paint applying roller surface which is usually formed of a wool-like material or flocking material or the like. Moreover, paint tends to coagulate upon the portion of the paint applying roller resting upon the tray surface.

Thus, it is desirable to store the paint roller when it is not used, either in between painting strokes where the painter places the roller down for a while or for a longer period of time such as overnight, in an upright position where the roller which applies the paint is not resting upon a support surface and where the paint remaining on the roller has an opportunity to drip off the roller to avoid coagulation.

While it would be apparent to use suitable stands or support devices upon which the roller may be placed during non-use and removed for use, that approach is not practical as it simply adds another device to the painters equipment, as well as adds to the expense of equipment. Moreover, such device would not be readily available without effort on the part of the painter to properly position it and move it to the places where needed at the times needed.

Moreover, conventional paint rollers are inexpensive and are designed to be used for a relatively short period of time after which they may be disposed of. Thus, anything which adds to the cost thereof in any substantial amount, is not practical for this type of device.

Hence, the invention herein relates to an improvement to conventional paint applying rollers, namely, a means carried by the roller itself for supporting the roller in an upright position during periods of non-use.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention hereof relates to forming a simple, inexpensive support upon the wire portion of a paint roller which support serves to position the roller in an upright position during periods of non-use but which otherwise is so small and unobtrusive as to avoid interference with the operation of the roller. More specifically, the invention contemplates fastening or forming upon the base of the U-shape bend of the stiff wire, a small, widened support, such as a metal plate or disk, roughly the size of a coin of large denomination, or a small bent wire member, which together with the remote end of the paint roller handle support the paint roller upright.

Thus, the means for supporting the paint roller in an upright position during non-use, is available at all times, being carried by the paint roller, but at no time does it interfere with the normal operation of the roller in applying paint. Further, it is extremely inexpensive and does not materially add to the cost of the paint roller, which is a significant factor in this type of device.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional paint roller used for applying paint to a large wall or ceiling type surface, with the roller arranged in an upright position upon the support of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the paint roller, with the paint applying roller shown in cross-section.

FIG. 3 illustrates a modified form of paint roller, of the type used for painting corners.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a further modification illustrating a modified form of support, and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of arrows 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modification having a removable support.

FIG. 7 shows the removable support of FIG. 6, per se.

FIG. 8 is a front view taken on arrows 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shows a fragmentary view of a modification having a support formed as a drip tray.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on arrows 10-10 of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a conventional paint roller 10 which is formed of a stiff wire member 11 bent into a squared U-shape to form a base portion 12, a long leg 13 and a short leg 14 which conventionally is roughly about one-half the length of the long leg. The short leg 14 is formed with a bent or integral handle forming extension 15 which is roughly parallel to the base portion 12. The entire bent wire is approximately located in a flat plane. Conventionally, the free end of the handle forming portion 15 is provided with a suitable handle grip 16 which may be made of wood or plastic.

Mounted upon the long leg 13 is a conventional paint applying roller l7..This is formed of a cylinder or tube 18 whose surface is covered with a cloth-like material, such as flocking or a wool-like material which may be applied directly to the surface of the tube or may be applied to a sleeve which is then slipped over the tube. Both of these constructions are conventional.

The tube is provided with end closures 19, each of which is formed with a central opening 20 of a diameter to receive the wire leg 13.

Suitable bumps or projections or enlargements 21 are formed on the leg 13 to serve as a bearing member for the lower closure 19. A washer 22 serves as a bearing member for the opposite closure 19. The tube is held upon the long leg by means of a conventional wing nut 23 threadedly engaged with threads 24 formed upon the free end of the leg 13.

The invention herein relates to a support member 25 which may be in the form of a disk or plate of small diameter relative to the length of the wire base portion 12 but is relatively wide as compared to the diameter of the wire so that it extends transversely to the plane of the bent wire. The support member is welded or similarly fastened at 26 to the base portion 12 at or adjacent to the corner between the base portion 12 and the short leg 14 of the wire. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, such corner actually is approximately centrally located upon the disk 25.

In securing the disk to the wire, the disk is arranged at an angle so that its lower surface is in a plane which is at an acute angle to the wire handle portion 15 and intersects the handle portion at its remote end.

Thus, during periods of non-use, the paint roller may be supported in an upright position upon the support member or disk 25 and the remote end of the handle portion. This alignment of the support member and the end of the handle is schematically illustrated by a dotted line 27 which represents a support surface, such as a floor or table or the like.

MODIFICATION FIG. 3

FIG. 3 illustrates a modified paint roller 30 of a type used to paint corners of intersecting wall and ceiling surfaces and the like. Here, the paint applying roller 31 is made of a foamed plastic material preferably or some other suitable material and is shaped to engage into corners. It is mounted upon the long leg 13a of the wire. However, the U-shape bend in the wire is shallower than that illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 because of the shorter length of the roller.

In this modification, the short leg 14a may be arranged at an obtuse angle relative to the base portion 12a. The handle extension a is reversely bent to form an upper part 32 so that the wire itself forms a hand grip of sufficient size for manually grasping. In this modification, the support member 25 is essentially the same as and is similarly secured to the wire as that described above. However, here the paint roller is supported in an upright position upon the support member 25 and the remote end 33 of the handle portion which is at the bight of the bent handle.

MODIFICATION FIGS. 4 AND 5 FIG. 4 illustrates a modification wherein the paint roller 40 is provided with a support member 41 in the shape of a bent wire which is bent into an inverted V- shape. The apex 42 of the bent wire is secured to the base portion 12b adjacent to, but a short distance from, the corner between the base portion and the short leg. The legs 43 of the V-shape support member extend downwardly and transversely to the base portion 12b. Thus, the paint roller is supported in an upright position upon the ends of the legs 43 and the remote end 33a of the handle forming portion of the wire.

MODIFICATION FIGS. 6-8

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate a modification wherein the support member 50 is formed of a plate, i.e., disk 51 secured to a right angle bent channel 52, made of springy metal or plastic, for removably receiving and spring gripping the cornerof the wire member. Thus, the support is removable and can be handled as a separate element to be applied to any conventional paint roller.

MODIFICATION FIGS. 9-10 In FIGS. 9 and 10, the support member 55 is formed in a tray shape, i.e., out of stamped sheet metal or molded plastic, etc., and extends along the wire portion 12C. Thus, upon standing the paint roller upright, paint dripping down the roller is caught in the support member.

Having fully described an operative embodiment of this invention, I now claim:

1. In a paint roller formed of a stiff wire bent into a roughly squared U-shape form to provide a base portion with an integral long leg and short leg which is roughly about one-half the length of the long leg, and with the free end of the short leg having an integral elongated handle portion bent therefrom and extending a considerable distance from the short leg, roughly parallel to the axis of but in the opposite direction of said base portion to provide a handle portion, and the long leg extending through the center of a paint applying roller for rotatably mounting said paint applying roller coaxially thereupon, the improvement comprising:

a small, relatively wide attachment plate having its upper surface secured to said base portion adjacent to the bent corner formed between the base portion and the short leg and on the side of the base portion opposite to the direction of extension of the short leg relative to the base portion to form a support which is widened transversely to the plane of the U-shape form; said plate having its lower face being in a plane located at an acute angle relative to the base portion and intersecting the axis of the handle portion at a point remote from the short leg, with the lower face thus forming the widened support, said plate being in the form of a flat, circular disk of a diameter considerably less than the length of said base portion and with its center at approximately the corner formed by the bend between the base portion and short leg;

wherein said paint roller may be supported upright, that is, with its paint applying roller axially upright, upon the support and the remote end of said handle portion.

2. In a paint roller formed of a stiff wire bent into a roughly squared U-shape form to provide a base portion with an integral long leg and short leg which roughly about one-half the length of the long leg, and with the free end of the short leg having an integral elongated handle portion bent therefrom and extending a considerable distance from the short leg, roughly parallel to the axis of but in the opposite direction of said base portion to provide a handle portion, and the long leg extending through the center of a paint applying roller for rotatably mounting said paint applying roller coaxially thereupon, the improvement comprising:

a small, relatively wide attachment member in the form of an inverted V-shaped piece of stiff wire joined at its apex and secured to said base portion adjacent to the bent corner formed between the base portion and the short leg and on the side of the base portion opposite to the direction of extension of the short leg relative to the base portion to form a support which is widened transversely to the plane of the U-shape form;

with the legs of the V-shape extending on opposite sides of the plane of the U-shape form and in a direction opposite to the legs of the U-shape form;

wherein said paint roller may be supported upright, that is, with its paint applying roller axially upright, upon the ends of the legs of the U-shape and the remote end of said handle portion.

3. In a paint roller formed of a stiff wire bent into a roughly squared U-shape form to provide a base portion with an integral long leg and short leg which is roughly about one-half the length of the long leg, and with the free end of the short leg having an integral elongated handle portion bent therefrom and extending a considerable distance from the short leg, roughly parallel to the axis of but in the opposite direction of said base portion to provide a handle portion, and the long leg extending through the center of a paint applying roller for rotatably mounting said paint applying roller coaxially thereupon, the improvement comprising:

a small, relatively wide attachment member secured to said base portion adjacent to the bent corner formed between the base portion and the short leg and on the side of the base portion opposite to the direction of extension of the short leg relative to the base portion to form a support which is widened transversely to the plane of the U-shape form; said attachment member having a U-shaped springy channel with its upper end open and being bent to receive and spring grip the bent corner for removable securement thereto;

wherein said paint roller may be supported upright, that is, with its paint applying roller axially upright,

upon the support and the remote end of said handle portion.

4. In a paint roller formed of a stiff wire bent into a roughly squared U-shape form to provide a base portion with an integral long leg and short leg which is roughly about one-half the length of the long leg, and with the free end of the short leg having an integral elongated handle portion bent therefrom and extending a considerable distance from the short leg, roughly parallel to the axis of but in the opposite direction of said base portion to provide a handle portion, and the long leg extending through the center of a paint applying roller for rotatably mounting said paint applying roller coaxially thereupon, the improvement comprising:

a small, relatively wide attachment member formed in a tray-like shape for receiving paint drips and extending the length of said base portion and being secured to said base portion adjacent to the bent corner formed between the base portion and the short leg and on the side of the base portion opposite to the direction of extension of the short leg relative to the base portion to form a support which is widened transversely to the plane of the U-shape form;

wherein said paint roller may be supported upright, that is, with its paint applying roller axially upright, upon the support and the remote end of said handle portion. 

1. In a paint roller formed of a stiff wire bent into a roughly squared U-shape form to provide a base portion with an integral long leg and short leg which is roughly about one-half the length of the long leg, and with the free end of the short leg having an integral elongated handle portion bent therefrom and extending a considerable distance from the short leg, roughly parallel to the axis of but in the opposite direction of said base portion to provide a handle portion, and the long leg extending through the center of a paint applying roller for rotatably mounting said paint applying roller coaxially thereupon, the improvement comprising: a small, relatively wide attachment plate having its upper surface secured to said base portion adjacent to the bent corner formed between the base portion and the short leg and on the side of the base portion opposite to the direction of extension of the short leg relative to the base portion to form a support which is widened transversely to the plane of the Ushape form; said plate having its lower face being in a plane located at an acute angle relative to the base portion and intersecting the axis of the handle portion at a point remote from the short leg, with the lower face thus forming the widened support, said plate being in the form of a flat, circular disk of a diameter considerably less than the length of said base portion and with its center at approximately the corner formed by the bend between the base portion and short leg; wherein said paint roller may be supported upright, that is, with its paint applying roller axially upright, upon the support and the remote end of said handle portion.
 2. In a paint roller formed of a stiff wire bent into a roughly squared U-shape form to provide a base portion with an integral long leg and short leg which roughly about one-half the length of the long leg, and with the free end of the short leg having an integral elongated handle portion bent therefrom and extending a considerable distance from the short leg, roughly parallel to the axis of but in the opposite direction of said base portion to provide a handle portion, and the long leg extending through the center of a paint applying roller for rotatably mounting said paint applying roller coaxially thereupon, the improvement comprising: a small, relatively wide attachment member in the form of an inverted V-shaped piece of stiff wire joined at its apex and secured to said base portion adjacent to the bent corner formed between the base portion and the short leg and on the side of the base portion opposite to the direction of extension of the short leg relative to the base portion to form a support which is widened transversely to the plane of the U-shape form; with the legs of the V-shape extending on opposite sides of the plane of the U-shape form and in a direction opposite to the legs of the U-shape form; wherein said paint roller may be supported upright, that is, with its paint applying roller axially upright, upon the ends of the legs of the U-shape and the remote end of said handle portion.
 3. In a paint roller formed of a stiff wire bent into a roughly squared U-shape form to provide a base portion with an integral long leg and short leg which is roughly about one-half the length of the long leg, and with the free end of the short leg having an integral elongated handle portion bent therefrom and extending a considerable distance from the short leg, roughly parallel to the axis of but in the opposite direction of said base portion to provide a handle portion, and the long leg extending through the center of a paint applying roller for rotatably mounting said paint applying roller coaxially thereupon, the improvement comprising: a small, relatively wide attachment member secured to said base portion adjacent to the bent corner formed between the base portion and the short leg and on the side of the base portion opposite to the direction of extension of the short leg relative to the base portion to form a support which is widened transversely to the plane of the U-shape form; said attachment member having a U-shaped springy channel with its upper end open and being bent to receive and spring grip the bent corner for removable securement thereto; wherein said paint roller may be supported upright, that is, with its paint applying roller axially upright, upon the support and the remote end of said handle portion.
 4. In a paint roller formed of a stiff wire bent into a roughly squared U-shape form to provide a base portion with an integral long leg and short leg which is roughly about one-half the length of the long leg, and with the free end of the short leg having an integral elongated handle portion bent therefrom and extending a considerable distance from the short leg, roughly parallel to the axis of but in the opposite direction of said base portion to provide a handle portion, and the long leg extending through the center of a paint applying roller for rotatably mounting said paint applying roller coaxially thereupon, the improvement comprising: a small, relatively wide attachment member formed in a tray-like shape for receiving paint drips and extending the length of said base portion and being secured to said base portion adjacent to the bent corner formed between the base portion and the short leg and on the side of the base portion opposite to the direction of extension of the short leg relative to the base portion to form a support which is widened transversely to the plane of the U-shape form; wherein said paint roller may be supported upright, that is, with its paint applying roller axially upright, upon the support and the remote end of said handle portion. 